buchu

American  

[boo-koo, byoo-kyoo] / ˈbu ku, ˈbyu kyu /

noun

1. any of several southern African citrus shrubs of the genus Agathosma or the genus Diosma, especially A. betulina, A. crenulata, or D. ericoides, whose leaves yield a dark-colored oil formerly used as a urinary antiseptic and mild diuretic.

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buchu British  

/ ˈbuːkuː /

noun

1. any of several S. African rutaceous shrubs of the genus Barosma , esp B. betulina , whose leaves are used as an antiseptic and diuretic

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Etymology

Origin of buchu

1725–35; < Afrikaans (now spelling boegoe ) < Khoikhoi, first attested as boggoa (1668)

Example Sentences

During the day, I was prepping and tasting healthy stuff — green beans, spinach, buchu, daikon, snow peas, garlic, galangal.

From Salon • May 23, 2025

And Pernod Ricard launched a non-alcoholic version of gin, along with Cinzano Spritz 0% and Ceder’s, a gin-like non-alcoholic beverage with botanical notes of juniper, rooibos and buchu.

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2025

The buchu leaves acts quickly on the kidneys and it is surprising to see how quickly the backache will disappear.

From Mother's Remedies Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from Mothers of the United States and Canada by Ritter, Thomas Jefferson

What will produce more profuse perspiration than pilocarpin; or what is a better stimulus to the kidneys than squills or buchu?

From Nature Cure by Lindlahr, Henry

The other species which yield buchu are B. serratifolia, having linear-lanceolate sharply serrulate leaves, and B. betulina, the leaves of which are cuneate-obovate, with denticulate margins.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 "Brescia" to "Bulgaria" by Various